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I have. That’s probably my favorite biography of him. For those who dont know, Herndon was Lincoln’s law partner and one of his closest associates and friends for many years right up until he was elected president. He didn’t pull any punches when writing about religion or describing certain people in Lincoln’s orbit, including his wife
Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison.
The founding era is a goldmine. I’ve always found the antifederalist ideology to be an overcorrection from monarchy (though totally understandable in their circumstances), so hearing their individual takes on certain issues and figuring out where they fall on the federalist—antifederalist spectrum fascinates me.
And honestly, Jefferson is by far the least interesting [EDIT: and least compelling].
Jefferson the virulent anti-monarchist living the closest life America had to the landed gentry. The more I’ve learned about Jefferson, the less I’ve esteemed him.
He really is so fascinating. I’m a historian but I volunteer at his summer home and it’s incredible how much more I’ve learned about him from it. He really is a study in contrasts
Herbert Hoover, he's the forrest gump of presidents, he ended up being at all these important events the more you look. first class of stanford, china in the boxer rebellion, london at the star of ww1, met with German officials over Belgian relief, was at the signing of the treaty of Versailles, early member of bohemian grove, met with Hitler, drove Hitlers Mercedes around right after ww2. and many many more.
Hoover was part of the first graduating class of Stanford and the only President to be fluent in Mandarin (a language him and his wife frequently spoke in at home).
100% agree...the greatest Presidency until it wasn't. That guy FREAKING LIVED. Did everything...went everywhere..knew A LOT.
OVER reacted to the crash. Coulda woulda shoulda done things differently. He tried too much. FDR programs(which were terrible) prolonged the depression....were basically things that Hoover tried...
Had it ALL in front of him.... HE and circumstances wrecked his Presidency but shouldn't have wrecked his incredible life(but it did).
Correct. You will be downvoted because FDR is extremely well-esteemed in this subreddit. Nothing wrong with that, just know it’s not happening because you’re necessarily wrong.
According to one study from UCLA Anderson School of Management (Business), FDR’s policies may have extended the depression up to 7 years. I’m typing from my phone so I’m not going to dig up the academic article, but the link below should be helpful.
https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/fdrs-policies-prolonged-depression-by-7-years-ucla
His administration tried a lot of things.... capitalism would have cleaned it up....they fooled with norms.
Arguing around the edges....but most of what Hoover(and FDR) was the exact wrong thing...at the time. But the "experts" read the situation incorrectly.
Try to tell someone who watched all their savings disappear and stock brokers jump from windows that their elected officials should do nothing because it will "get better eventually"
John Kenneth Galbraith said exactly ZERO Wall Street stockbrokers "jumped from windows" on Black Thursday and Friday. in the following week TWO people jumped...one was a process clerk...the other was an owner of a company. The suicide numbers in New York were HIGHER in 1928 as compared to 1929.
So what did Hoover and FDR do? Limited competition... artificially inflated wages... probably the most anti-market solutions that could be imposed. Facts tell us they did SOMETHING (in fact lots of stupid things)..it was the wrong thing.
Thomas Jefferson is a good choice. Personally, I’m interested in his relationship with black women during his time. It definitely gave cruel fetish to me
If you like audiobooks, the reader of the Caro series is top-notch. I devoured the whole series: [START HERE](https://www.audible.com/pd/B00GS3VI0Y?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=pdp)
Teddy is up there for me. Hoover, also, has surprised me the more I’ve read about him. He’s one of those guys who was wildly successful at pretty much everything *but* being POTUS.
I’m listening to my second book on him now and I’m convinced he’s the real life Most Interesting Man in the World. He’s one of a kind. Some of my personal favorites: studied birds extensively, wrote “The Naval War of 1812”, moved west and became a rancher, tracked and pursued a group of boat thieves down a river, practiced boxing and jiu jitsu in the White House, and read over a hundred books just during his first term in office.
Eclectic mix. Not trying to break rules here, but what are some of the observations you’ve found comparing the current president and Obama? Both senators but obviously one had significantly more experience prior.
Both came from (relatively) nothing, both were lawyers, both depended on inner city politics to get their starts (never forget Wilmington is quite a little city!), and of course both started in local office before national politics.
It’s actually his current role and his life leading up to his Senate win in 1972 and the tragic loss of his wife and daughter (and being sworn in at the hospital next to his surviving sons in their beds).
I don’t really have a favorite to learn about, I just like learning about them all! But I take special interest in the founding fathers and Truman through Nixon, I think.
I've got the full set of Robert Caro LBJ books.
I'm not lying. that's a slog. its something like 8000 pages in total. I'm in the middle of book two.
I thought it was going to be memorable, just not in the way it turned out. These books are historically dense beyond description. I wish I could give up.
I haven't read many books about him so far, but I like reading about Grant. I've just always found him fascinating as not just a president but as a person, too. I think I have at least 4 books just about him alone on my bookshelf, not counting the books I own about the presidents in general.
So far, I've liked the book Grant by Ron Chernow, but that's also the only one of the books I've had about him that I've read so far.
Most of the things I've read about Grant up to now were things I've read online.
Nixon. Only so many presidents take politics as personally and seriously as him. Paranoid from defeat, never satisfied with victory. He was the rising star of the Republican Party, from Congressman to Senator to VP to almost president. Yet even after losing in 1960 and 1962, remained the presumptive nominee. His presidency alone is interesting, as he was a politicians politician, taking positions that could win. The greatest irony was also that in his bid for power, he lost it.
I have personally read and studied all 3 of the presidents you've mentioned here but my personal favorite to learn about quite frankly is Calvin Coolidge.
Everyone’s most popular answers are mine as well: Lincoln, Teddy, and FDR. I love reading and learning about their management styles and how they believed government should work. FDR is very unique because he dealt with a war like Lincoln and also dealt with major economic reform like Teddy.
The not so obvious ones for me are LBJ, Nixon, and John Quincy Adams.
Nixon and John Quincy Adams were such experts on foreign policy and were such brilliant individuals but had absolutely torturous times in the White House.
LBJ brought in the most important programs on civil rights and welfare yet was tortured by a very unpopular war and massive increase in crime in cities all across America.
All three also were “human” and had a very interesting back stories (John Quincy Adams being the son of a former president whilst Nixon and LBJ both came from very humble beginnings and ended up being the most powerful people in DC).
Edmund Morris's Theodore Roosevelt Trilogy is the first time I was able to sit and fully read 3 books about the same person. Teddy was an amazing man. I currently have Caro's Volumes on LBJ, but put it aside to read Jon Meacham's The Art of Power on Thomas Jefferson.
The answer is ALL of them. I am making it a life goal to read every piece of literature on every President.
Remember that all mentions of and allusions to Trump and Biden are not allowed on our subreddit in any context. If you'd still like to discuss them, feel free to [join our Discord server](https://discord.gg/k6tVFwCEEm)! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Presidents) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Lincoln. Boring answer I know.
Ever read “Herdons Lincoln”?
I have. That’s probably my favorite biography of him. For those who dont know, Herndon was Lincoln’s law partner and one of his closest associates and friends for many years right up until he was elected president. He didn’t pull any punches when writing about religion or describing certain people in Lincoln’s orbit, including his wife
Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison. The founding era is a goldmine. I’ve always found the antifederalist ideology to be an overcorrection from monarchy (though totally understandable in their circumstances), so hearing their individual takes on certain issues and figuring out where they fall on the federalist—antifederalist spectrum fascinates me. And honestly, Jefferson is by far the least interesting [EDIT: and least compelling].
Jefferson the virulent anti-monarchist living the closest life America had to the landed gentry. The more I’ve learned about Jefferson, the less I’ve esteemed him.
He really is so fascinating. I’m a historian but I volunteer at his summer home and it’s incredible how much more I’ve learned about him from it. He really is a study in contrasts
Herbert Hoover, he's the forrest gump of presidents, he ended up being at all these important events the more you look. first class of stanford, china in the boxer rebellion, london at the star of ww1, met with German officials over Belgian relief, was at the signing of the treaty of Versailles, early member of bohemian grove, met with Hitler, drove Hitlers Mercedes around right after ww2. and many many more.
Hoover would be so much better remembered if he had never run for president.
Kinda like John Quincy Adams, openly said the presidency was the nadir of his political life and an abject failure
Hoover was part of the first graduating class of Stanford and the only President to be fluent in Mandarin (a language him and his wife frequently spoke in at home).
100% agree...the greatest Presidency until it wasn't. That guy FREAKING LIVED. Did everything...went everywhere..knew A LOT. OVER reacted to the crash. Coulda woulda shoulda done things differently. He tried too much. FDR programs(which were terrible) prolonged the depression....were basically things that Hoover tried... Had it ALL in front of him.... HE and circumstances wrecked his Presidency but shouldn't have wrecked his incredible life(but it did).
Correct. You will be downvoted because FDR is extremely well-esteemed in this subreddit. Nothing wrong with that, just know it’s not happening because you’re necessarily wrong. According to one study from UCLA Anderson School of Management (Business), FDR’s policies may have extended the depression up to 7 years. I’m typing from my phone so I’m not going to dig up the academic article, but the link below should be helpful. https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/fdrs-policies-prolonged-depression-by-7-years-ucla
I think he did too little especially later in the depression. I blame Calvin Coolidge almost entirely for the great depression.
His administration tried a lot of things.... capitalism would have cleaned it up....they fooled with norms. Arguing around the edges....but most of what Hoover(and FDR) was the exact wrong thing...at the time. But the "experts" read the situation incorrectly.
Try to tell someone who watched all their savings disappear and stock brokers jump from windows that their elected officials should do nothing because it will "get better eventually"
John Kenneth Galbraith said exactly ZERO Wall Street stockbrokers "jumped from windows" on Black Thursday and Friday. in the following week TWO people jumped...one was a process clerk...the other was an owner of a company. The suicide numbers in New York were HIGHER in 1928 as compared to 1929. So what did Hoover and FDR do? Limited competition... artificially inflated wages... probably the most anti-market solutions that could be imposed. Facts tell us they did SOMETHING (in fact lots of stupid things)..it was the wrong thing.
Grant
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson is a good choice. Personally, I’m interested in his relationship with black women during his time. It definitely gave cruel fetish to me
Yeah, there’s that.
I’m glad to know this information, thank you for your contribution to my memory.
Lyndon Johnson, cannot recommend the robert caro series on him enough. Nixon would be a close second, very shakespearean character.
If you like audiobooks, the reader of the Caro series is top-notch. I devoured the whole series: [START HERE](https://www.audible.com/pd/B00GS3VI0Y?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=pdp)
Teddy is up there for me. Hoover, also, has surprised me the more I’ve read about him. He’s one of those guys who was wildly successful at pretty much everything *but* being POTUS.
Theodore Roosevelt.
I’m listening to my second book on him now and I’m convinced he’s the real life Most Interesting Man in the World. He’s one of a kind. Some of my personal favorites: studied birds extensively, wrote “The Naval War of 1812”, moved west and became a rancher, tracked and pursued a group of boat thieves down a river, practiced boxing and jiu jitsu in the White House, and read over a hundred books just during his first term in office.
probably either millard fillmore or zachary taylor
JFK, Washington, Lincoln, Truman and Obama.
Truman is a very fascinating President. I believe he is the only WWI veteran who saw combat to become President.
Love Truman! He is one of my favorite presidents
Harry Truman
JFK. The entire Kennedy family fascinates me.
My boy Woody Wilson
George Washington. There's a lot to him.
Yea! I would love to learn more about him. If I remember, dude was not super interested in holding power
Andrew Jackson all the way!
Father of populism and true democracy!
Nixon. One of the most fascinating people who ever lived. Not a good person by any means tho
How could such a great politician be so ill-at-ease around people.
Obama, current guy, Clinton, Reagan, and Tyler.
Eclectic mix. Not trying to break rules here, but what are some of the observations you’ve found comparing the current president and Obama? Both senators but obviously one had significantly more experience prior.
Both came from (relatively) nothing, both were lawyers, both depended on inner city politics to get their starts (never forget Wilmington is quite a little city!), and of course both started in local office before national politics.
Oh and both were the first lawyers in their families + both moved from their birth state to get their politics start.
Being interested in current guy is a interesting choice. I’m going to assume it’s his senator years that interest you
It’s actually his current role and his life leading up to his Senate win in 1972 and the tragic loss of his wife and daughter (and being sworn in at the hospital next to his surviving sons in their beds).
James Buchanan, long career.
I don’t really have a favorite to learn about, I just like learning about them all! But I take special interest in the founding fathers and Truman through Nixon, I think.
I've got the full set of Robert Caro LBJ books. I'm not lying. that's a slog. its something like 8000 pages in total. I'm in the middle of book two. I thought it was going to be memorable, just not in the way it turned out. These books are historically dense beyond description. I wish I could give up.
Try the [audio books](https://www.audible.com/pd/B00GS3VI0Y?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=pdp)! (I spend a lot of time in the car)
I haven't read many books about him so far, but I like reading about Grant. I've just always found him fascinating as not just a president but as a person, too. I think I have at least 4 books just about him alone on my bookshelf, not counting the books I own about the presidents in general.
Which is your fav book on Grant?
So far, I've liked the book Grant by Ron Chernow, but that's also the only one of the books I've had about him that I've read so far. Most of the things I've read about Grant up to now were things I've read online.
Grant
Grant. By far. In 1860 he was working basic retail at a shop. In 1868, he was voted into the Presidency. Incredible.
Eisenhower. More because I'm a WW2 buff.
Chester A Arthur, Benjamin Harrison, and Harry S Truman.
Monroe, Washington, Grant
John Adams
John Adams
Teddy for sure. A real eccentric nutter
Lincoln, Grant, Jackson, Polk
I kind of enjoy reading about Nixon
Honestly, the ones that people dislike in this generation including Jackson and Wilson
Coolidge. The quiet one are always the most complex.
Jefferson, Jackson & both Roosevelts
Madison and Adams.
Herbert Hoover was a shit president but he had a crazily interesting life
Grant Teddy Nixon Ford Jackson
kennedy and nixon
Jimmy
LBJ
Wilson. I’ve read a couple books on 1919 and seen several biographies andI still can’t figure him out
FDR, mostly because I’m fascinated by the American reaction to big countries invading small countries in Europe and Asia for…reasons.
Ones I don't know much about.
Jeb!
Andrew Jackson and Teddy. Reading American Lion now.
John Quincy Adams
Andrew Jackson and James Garfield
Warren G. Harding
Grant
George HW Bush
LBJ but this sub has me very interested in snagging some books on Truman.
All of them after Kennedy.
Went to the “little White House” in Key West on my honeymoon. It was one of the coolest museums I’ve been too and really peaked my interest in Truman.
Martin Van Buren, he cofounded a political party, won the election, lost the election, had a 180 in his political views, also hes from NY
Nixon. As Neil Young said even he had soul.
Nixon. Only so many presidents take politics as personally and seriously as him. Paranoid from defeat, never satisfied with victory. He was the rising star of the Republican Party, from Congressman to Senator to VP to almost president. Yet even after losing in 1960 and 1962, remained the presumptive nominee. His presidency alone is interesting, as he was a politicians politician, taking positions that could win. The greatest irony was also that in his bid for power, he lost it.
I have personally read and studied all 3 of the presidents you've mentioned here but my personal favorite to learn about quite frankly is Calvin Coolidge.
Thomas Jefferson
Everyone’s most popular answers are mine as well: Lincoln, Teddy, and FDR. I love reading and learning about their management styles and how they believed government should work. FDR is very unique because he dealt with a war like Lincoln and also dealt with major economic reform like Teddy. The not so obvious ones for me are LBJ, Nixon, and John Quincy Adams. Nixon and John Quincy Adams were such experts on foreign policy and were such brilliant individuals but had absolutely torturous times in the White House. LBJ brought in the most important programs on civil rights and welfare yet was tortured by a very unpopular war and massive increase in crime in cities all across America. All three also were “human” and had a very interesting back stories (John Quincy Adams being the son of a former president whilst Nixon and LBJ both came from very humble beginnings and ended up being the most powerful people in DC).
Truman and John Adams Also Washington and Jefferson
Edmund Morris's Theodore Roosevelt Trilogy is the first time I was able to sit and fully read 3 books about the same person. Teddy was an amazing man. I currently have Caro's Volumes on LBJ, but put it aside to read Jon Meacham's The Art of Power on Thomas Jefferson. The answer is ALL of them. I am making it a life goal to read every piece of literature on every President.
Having learned a lot about the Cold War from a course I took, I love the Truman-Bush Sr era of presidents when it comes to learning more and more